§ Richard OttawayTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there have been breaches by the UK of the(a)Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations 1946 and (b)Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 in the last two years. [159378]
§ Mr. StrawThe United Kingdom is obliged to comply with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 and the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations 1946 in accordance with international law. There have been a small number of cases where, through administrative error, arriving diplomats have been referred for medical checks or had their personal effects opened in a manner not in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. On each occasion the matter was amicably resolved after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office apologised to the diplomatic mission concerned.